Five for Fraturday

So I had BIG TIME remorse after writing my rant about having 31 kids this year and how, next year, our second grade classes will have an extra teacher so they will have small class sizes.

I was salty and bitter.

Which is not a good combination.

Salty and sweet? That’s a different story.

But I was just all sorts of salty and bitter.

And then on Easter Sunday, our pastor talked about how the worst emotion you can have is BITTERNESS.

And the healthiest emotion you can have is GRATITUDE.

I don’t think it came across in my big ole temper tantrum that I am so grateful for my 31 kids, that I would not trade even one of them for a smaller class size, that I love each and every one, that I love my job, that I am so thankful for my school, my team, my families, my classroom, my staff, my location, our PTA, our ground squirrels, our custodial staff, our office staff, the cafeteria ladies, our super nice noon supervisors . . . I mean the list goes on . . .

So I thought I should point that out.

I am grateful.

TRULY grateful that I get to do what I love every single day.

I can’t lie and say that I’m not frustrated about the whole entire situation because I am, and last time I checked, I am a human being with actual emotions, but from here on out, I’m going to try extra hard to focus on the positive, and choose GRATITUDE.

🙂

But thanks for having my back, people. Your comments and frustration on my behalf were really really really nice. 🙂

PS Kerry agreed with everything I said when I went over this with her on the phone, and then was quick to point out that I have every right to be upset and frustrated, and she told me not to feel bad, and for this and a multitude of other things, I love her. She never plays devil’s advocate with me. Never.

🙂

Glory Be, can it be???? Is it true?

Is it a dream or did my district FINALLY hop on the Daily 5 program?!

Guess what?

It’s not a dream and I actually went to a training this week on the Daily 5.

And I was kind of smirky and sarcastic about it, and I may have texted a few friends about it BECAUSE HELLO? Thanks to all of you, I feel like I’ve already been trained. Blog Land and Pinterest and Instagram and Facebook knows where its at, thank you very much.

But I went because a) long lunch and b) let’s see what they have to say.

Lucky for us, the teacher on special assignment had a co-teacher and that teacher IS STILL IN THE CLASSROOM. And if I’m going to a district training, I need it to be a teacher who is still in the classroom, otherwise, I’m bitter and salty and go through the whole thing all over again (see above) because a teacher on special assignment is usually a few years in AND HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE IN A LIVE CLASSROOM WITH LIVE CHILDREN AND LIVE LADYBUGS BECAUSE THEY KEEP BRINGING THEM IN EVEN THOUGH I SAY LET THEM BE WITH THEIR MOMMIES AND DADDIES, THEIR MOMMIES AND DADDIES ARE GOING TO BE WORRIED.

So.

It was a great training because the co-teacher has been using Daily 5 in her classroom for a few years and even invited all of us to come in and see it in action. She teaches at a year round school which makes it possible to go in during the summer, and so I signed on the dotted line because I need to see it in action.

Because 31 kids or even 32 kids (our max) is a whole ‘nother ballgame compared to what I’ve seen on the blogs. Especially when you take into account behavior problems or students with special needs or mainstreaming.

We also got the book for FREE while we were there and I promptly put my name inside it.

So hooray for worthwhile trainings!!! 🙂

THIS BOOK.

It is such a great book, plus it has the words Teeny Tiny in it. 🙂

Have you read this book??? It is perfect for character education and teaching honesty. I love love love the pictures. Aren’t they the sweetest? Look at her face while she’s on the bus and climbing the stairs . . . my class and I had a great discussion about telling the truth versus lying. We talked about how our tummies hurt and we feel sick (she can’t eat dinner) when we make poor choices and what we can do to fix them.

I’ve had a couple of kids who, for lack of a better word and in an effort to not call them liars, have been exaggerating their stories recently.

For example, after hearing that another student went to Disneyland on Saturday, one particular student might follow up with I went to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios on Saturday!

Hmmm.

Wow.

We also had a recent incident in which one student STOLE from another student (GAH!) so it was definitely time for this book.

This book is well loved, as you can tell.

That’s due to my book baskets and my philosophy when it comes to books in the classroom which you can read about it {HERE}.

🙂

It was Teacher Appreciation week this week at school and now I’m as big as a house.

Our PTA appreciated us with food.

Which is my love language so I felt extremely appreciated.

Here was our schedule:

Monday: Breakfast burritos plus coffee, juice, fruit, etc.

Tuesday: Candy Bar

This happened to be the day of my training and I was practically in tears that I was going to miss this day because CANDY BAR. But I had to come back to school after the training so I got my candy then. 🙂

Wednesday: Dessert Day

Holy Deliciousness.

Thursday: Donut Day

The donuts were Krispy Kreme.

Which are as light as a feather and have zero calories because they melt in your mouth.

Friday: Taco Man

The Taco Man came to school and cooked for us. He was practically right outside my classroom and he started cooking the meat around 10am and my kids kept saying what’s that smell? It smells so good! and I said that’s my lunch!!!!

We also had drinks provided, chips, salad, and more dessert.

I’m telling you, we were SPOILED ROTTEN.

Our kids also brought in flowers and notes, candy, school supplies, and gift cards.

It was an amazing week and I felt guilty most days (because of my whole 31 post and everything).

I am so blessed to be able to do what I love.

GRATITUDE is my ATTITUDE, people.

I don’t have a picture for this one because we went on a Field Trip on Thursday. And all of my kids are in all of the pics so that’s why.

But here’s a funny story of what happened on the bus.

I was on the bus with my teammate and her kids. The parent volunteers and the two of us were all spread out on the bus amongst the kids. Well, one of her kids lost his tooth while we were heading to our destination, and I was in his section of the bus. So I took care of him.

I had his friends move to another seat and I took out my handy dandy gloves and tissue (call me Mrs. Prepared and Has Learned Her Lesson From Past Field Trips) and tended to him. His mouth was bleeding pretty good and he appeared a little worried because of it.

I told him he was okay, it would stop bleeding, and then asked him where his tooth was.

And he pointed to his stomach.

Poor guy!

I told him it was okay, the tooth fairy would still come, I’d help him write a note, etc.

Once he was all settled, I moved his friends back, and made my way to my co-teacher to let her know what happened.

And she said which tooth was it?

And I said his front top tooth.

She said HIS SILVER ONE?

Um.

I said I don’t know? I don’t think so. There is still a silver tooth in his mouth.

She said Both of his front teeth were silver!

To which I replied Not anymore!

Ha!

One of the moms on our bus was a nurse and said it would be okay, it would come outif you know what I mean.

I’m so sorry you felt remorse after your last post. I’ve been reading your blog for a loooooong time and you never ever come across as bitter or ungrateful (you wouldn’t have so many followers if you did!). I can’t even begin to imagine what teaching 31 first graders is like. In twelve years I’ve never had more than 22. You are allowed to be frustrated with the system without it affecting how you feel about those 31 lucky kiddos.